Topic description and stories

The task of ensuring affordable access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food for all is one of the major challenges of the 21st century.

Expresso Porco

Massive projected increase in use of antimicrobials in animals could lead to widespread antimicrobial resistance in humans

28 Sep 2017

The amount of antimicrobials given to animals destined for human consumption is expected to rise by a staggering 52% and reach 200,000 tonnes by 2030...

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Left: Wheat stem rust. Right: Network map of the atmospheric transmission of spores.

Study identifies likely scenarios for global spread of devastating crop disease

25 Sep 2017

New research reveals for the first time the most likely months and routes for the spread of new strains of airborne ‘wheat stem rust’ that may...

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Archaeology shows there's more to millet than birdseed

24 Jul 2017

Archaeological research shows that our prehistoric ancestors built resilience into their food supply. Now archaeologists say ‘forgotten’ millet – a...

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Cambridge-led collaborations aim to tackle global food security and public health challenges

21 Jul 2017

Two major research collaborations led by the University of Cambridge have been awarded almost £15 million in funding, the Minister of State for...

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Canola crop with wheat crop in background at Wallandbeen, NSW.

Major funding for new crop sciences research centre that will be ‘centrepiece’ of industrial collaboration

10 Jul 2017

Over £30m has been announced for a new Cambridge Centre for Crop Science that will focus on linking with farming and food industries to translate...

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African plant scientists develop new skills in Cambridge to tackle problems at home

05 Apr 2017

Lab training workshop and biotech conference, organised by second year Ph.D. student and Gates Scholar, aim to build African research capacity in...

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Greengrocer at Arusha Market

Of cabbages and cows: increasing agricultural yields in Africa

13 Feb 2017

Africa’s food requirements, along with its population, are growing fast. Three research programmes ask how a better understanding of viruses...

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Mulled wine: a recipe for sustainability?

19 Dec 2016

Nothing quite says ‘Christmas party’ like the smell of mulled wine drifting around an office. It’s an easy drink to make – all of the ingredients can...

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Cambridge to play major role in €400m EU food innovation project

13 Dec 2016

The University of Cambridge is one of a number of British universities and companies that have won access to a £340 million EU Innovation programme...

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Daffodil

Plant ‘thermometer’ triggers springtime budding by measuring night-time heat

27 Oct 2016

A photoreceptor molecule in plant cells has been found to moonlight as a thermometer after dark – allowing plants to read seasonal temperature...

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Researcher Sanjie Jiang inside the 'flight arena' in the glasshouse of the Cambridge University Botanic Garden.

Virus attracts bumblebees to infected plants by changing scent

11 Aug 2016

Study of bee-manipulating plant virus reveals a “short-circuiting” of natural selection. Researchers suggest that replicating the scent caused by...

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Opinion: A varied diet can prevent diabetes – but can you afford it?

20 Jul 2016

Pablo Monsivais (MRC Epidemiology Unit) and Annalijn I. Conklin (University of California, Los Angeles) discuss what sort of diet can reduce your...

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